This report, a joint effort between CLAJ and the Board on Children, Youth, and Families, is a comprehensive examination and synthesis of current research on commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking of minors in the United States.

The report finds that, even with law enforcement, policymakers, and media focusing increasingly on sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation of children, the U.S. is in the very early stages of recognizing, understanding, and developing solutions for these problems. Further, the report demonstrates that no one sector, discipline, or area of practice can fully understand or respond effectively to the complex problems surrounding commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking of minors. Therefore, participation from and cooperation among numerous individuals and entities—including victim and support service providers, health and mental health care providers, legislators, law enforcement personnel, prosecutors, public defenders, educators, and the commercial sector—is required. The report includes recommendations to increase awareness and advance understanding, to strengthen the law’s response, and to support collaboration to prevent, identify, and respond to commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking of minors in the United States.

Sponsor: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, U.S. Department of Justice